ARC 7029C

ARC 7029C

VETERINARY MEDICINE BOARD[811]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rule making related to military service and veteran reciprocity

and providing an opportunity for public comment

The Board of Veterinary Medicine hereby proposes to adopt new Chapter 15, "Military Service and Veteran Reciprocity," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rule Making

This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in 2022 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2383, section 21.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 272C.4.

Purpose and Summary

The proposed rule making adopts new Chapter 15, which provides a process under which the Board will provide credit toward licensure qualifications for military service and the procedures for issuing reciprocal or provisional licensure for veterans who are licensed in other jurisdictions. The rule making also implements 2022 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2383, section 21, by adding military spouses as individuals who can be licensed under special veteran reciprocity rules.

Fiscal Impact

This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Board for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 811—Chapter 14.

Public Comment

Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rule making. Written or oral comments in response to this rule making must be received by the Board no later than 4:30 p.m. on June 20, 2023. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

No public hearing is scheduled at this time. As provided in Iowa Code section 17A.4(1)"b," an oral presentation regarding this rule making may be demanded by 25 interested persons, a governmental subdivision, the Administrative Rules Review Committee, an agency, or an association having 25 or more members.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

The following rule-making action is proposed:

Adopt the following new 811—Chapter 15:

CHAPTER 15

MILITARY SERVICE AND VETERAN RECIPROCITY

811—15.1(272C) Definitions.

"Board" means the Iowa board of veterinary medicine.

"License" or "licensure" means any license, registration, certificate, or permit that may be granted by the Iowa board of veterinary medicine.

"Military service" means honorably serving on federal active duty, state active duty, or national guard duty, as defined in Iowa Code section 29A.1; in the military services of other states, as provided in 10 U.S.C. Section 101(c); or in the organized reserves of the United States, as provided in 10 U.S.C. Section 10101.

"Military service applicant" means an individual requesting credit toward licensure for military education, training, or service obtained or completed in military service.

"Spouse" means a spouse of an active duty member of the military forces of the United States.

"Veteran" means an individual who meets the definition of "veteran" in Iowa Code section 35.1(2).

811—15.2(272C) Military education, training, and service credit. A military service applicant may apply for credit for verified military education, training, or service toward any experience or educational requirement for licensure by submitting a military service application form to the board office.

15.2(1) The application may be submitted with an application for licensure or examination, or prior to application for licensure or to take an examination. No fee is required with submission of an application for military service credit.

15.2(2) The applicant shall identify the experience or educational licensure requirement to which the credit would be applied if granted. Credit shall not be applied to an examination requirement.

15.2(3) The applicant shall provide documents, military transcripts, a certified affidavit, or forms that verify completion of the relevant military education, training, or service, which may include, when applicable, the applicant's Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) or Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) (DD Form 2586).

15.2(4) Upon receipt of a completed military service application, the board shall promptly determine whether the verified military education, training, or service will satisfy all or any part of the identified experience or educational qualifications for licensure.

15.2(5) The board shall grant credit requested in the application in whole or in part if the board determines that the verified military education, training, or service satisfies all or part of the experience or educational qualifications for licensure.

15.2(6) The board shall inform the military service applicant in writing of the credit, if any, given toward an experience or educational qualification for licensure, or explain why no credit was granted. The applicant may request reconsideration upon submission of additional documentation or information.

15.2(7) A military service applicant who is aggrieved by the board's decision may request a contested case (administrative hearing) and may participate in a contested case by telephone. A request for a contested case shall be made within 30 days of issuance of the board's decision. The provisions of rules 811—10.13(17A,169,272C) through 811—10.38(17A) shall apply, except that no fees or costs shall be assessed against the military service applicant in connection with a contested case conducted pursuant to this subrule.

15.2(8) The board shall grant or deny the military service application prior to ruling on the application for licensure. The applicant shall not be required to submit any fees in connection with the licensure application unless the board grants the military service application. If the board does not grant the military service application, the applicant may withdraw the licensure application or request that the licensure application be placed in pending status for up to one year or as mutually agreed. The withdrawal of a licensure application shall not preclude subsequent applications supported by additional documentation or information.

811—15.3(272C) Veteran or spouse reciprocity.

15.3(1) A veteran or spouse with an unrestricted professional license in another jurisdiction may apply for licensure in Iowa through reciprocity. A veteran or spouse must pass any examinations required for licensure to be eligible for licensure through reciprocity and will be given credit for examinations previously passed when consistent with board laws and rules on examination requirements. A fully completed application for licensure submitted by a veteran or spouse under this subrule shall be given priority and shall be expedited.

15.3(2) Such an application shall contain all of the information required of all applicants for licensure who hold unrestricted licenses in other jurisdictions and who are applying for licensure by reciprocity, including but not limited to completion of all required forms, payment of applicable fees, disclosure of criminal or disciplinary history, and, if applicable, a criminal history background check. The applicant shall use the same forms as any other applicant for licensure by reciprocity and shall additionally provide such documentation as is reasonably needed to verify the applicant's status as a veteran under Iowa Code section35.1(2) or a spouse of an active duty member of the military forces of the United States.

15.3(3) Upon receipt of a fully completed licensure application, the board shall promptly determine if the scope of practice in the jurisdiction where the applicant is licensed is substantially equivalent to the scope of practice in Iowa. The board shall make this determination based on information supplied by the applicant and such additional information as the board may acquire from the applicable jurisdiction.

15.3(4) The board shall promptly grant a license to the applicant if the applicant is licensed in the same or similar profession in another jurisdiction whose scope of practice is substantially equivalent to the scope of practice in Iowa, unless the applicant is ineligible for licensure based on other grounds, for example, the applicant's disciplinary or criminal background.

15.3(5) If the board determines that the scope of practice in the jurisdiction in which the applicant is licensed is not substantially equivalent to the scope of practice in Iowa, the board shall promptly inform the applicant of the additional education or training required for licensure in Iowa. Unless the applicant is ineligible for licensure based on other grounds, such as disciplinary or criminal background, the following shall apply:

a. If an applicant has not passed the required examination(s) for licensure, the applicant may not be issued a temporary license but may request that the licensure application be placed in pending status for up to one year or as mutually agreed to provide the applicant with the opportunity to satisfy the examination requirements.

b. If additional education or training is required, the applicant may request that the board issue a temporary license for a specified period of time during which the applicant will successfully complete the necessary education or training. The board shall issue a temporary license for a specified period of time upon such conditions as the board deems reasonably necessary to protect the health, welfare or safety of the public unless the board determines that the deficiency is of a character that the public health, welfare or safety will be adversely affected if a temporary license is granted.

c. If a request for a temporary license is denied, the board shall issue an order fully explaining the decision and shall inform the applicant of the steps the applicant may take in order to receive a temporary license.

d. If a temporary license is issued, the application for full licensure shall be placed in pending status until the necessary education or training has been successfully completed or the temporary license expires, whichever occurs first. The board may extend a temporary license on a case-by-case basis for good cause.

15.3(6) An applicant who is aggrieved by the board's decision to deny an application for a reciprocal license or a temporary license or is aggrieved by the terms under which a temporary license will be granted may request a contested case (administrative hearing) and may participate in a contested case by telephone. A request for a contested case shall be made within 30 days of issuance of the board's decision. The provisions of rules 811—10.13(17A,169,272C) through 811—10.38(17A) shall apply, except that no fees or costs shall be assessed against the applicant in connection with a contested case conducted pursuant to this subrule.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 272C.12A.